Fire Ant Control
Fire ants are common in the southeast United States. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about fire ants and how to control them.
The Texas Two-Step method is the best way to control fire ants. Step one is to apply ant bait. When the bait is spread, it will be collected by the workers and taken back to the mound. It will be fed to the fourth and fifth instar larvae which are the only stage of fire ant that can eat solid food. They will digest it and make a liquid which is fed to the rest of the ants including the queen. Hopefully the queen will die. The life span of a worker ant is about nine weeks so the mound will continue to have ants for that long. Step two of the Texas Two Step is to go back a few weeks later with a contact insecticide which will kill the remaining ants.
Fire ant queens look for a place where there are no fire ants to start a new colony so you will probably have to do this again on another colony in the future.
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Fire Ant Control The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches
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The Texas Two-Step method is the best way to control fire ants. Step one is to apply ant bait. When the bait is spread, it will be collected by the workers and taken back to the mound. It will be fed to the fourth and fifth instar larvae which are the only stage of fire ant that can eat solid food. They will digest it and make a liquid which is fed to the rest of the ants including the queen. Hopefully the queen will die. The life span of a worker ant is about nine weeks so the mound will continue to have ants for that long. Step two of the Texas Two Step is to go back a few weeks later with a contact insecticide which will kill the remaining ants.
Fire ant queens look for a place where there are no fire ants to start a new colony so you will probably have to do this again on another colony in the future.
Related Videos:
Moving Fire Ants Without Chemicals
What is the best way to get rid of fire ants in raised beds?
Related Resources:
Fire Ant Control The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches
Two – Step Method
Fire Ant Management In The Home Lawn